Center Parcs is widely considered the UK’s best holiday village but it’s not always the most budget-friendly option – this alternative park has been rated a ‘no-brainer’ and still offers plenty of family fun
Holiday parks in the UK offer all everything you need for a fun-filled break with friends or family, with each location bringing its own unique twist. From swimming pools and fishing lakes to arcades, go-karts, and live entertainment, there’s usually something for everyone to enjoy.
What differs is the price. High-end destinations like Center Parcs offer luxury lodges nestled away in pine-scented forests that are renowned for being quite pricey, while more traditional holiday parks like Haven pin their USP on proximity to beaches and seaside breaks on a budget.
Center Parcs may be highly esteemed as the UK’s top holiday village but with prices skyrocketing into the thousands during peak season, it can be a bit steep for families on a tighter budget. Another financial worry with Center Parcs is that while some activities are complimentary, guests need to pay extra to participate in any of the truly exciting stuff.
READ MORE: Vintage Inns make ‘dog-friendly’ dining ‘delicious’ with three courses for £30
READ MORE: ‘Best strips’ for teeth whitening shoppers ‘ever used’ with ‘instant results’
With activities costing from a couple of pounds to as much as £50 each, increasing the fun could quickly drain your budget. At Haven, access to swimming pools, activity villages and entertainment areas is included.
Haven has 38 seaside parks and each one offers swimming pools, activity villages, on-site eateries and live shows. Similar to Center Parcs in terms of entertainment, it’s certainly a less expensive option.
It might not be fair to pit Haven against Center Parcs as they’re quite different beasts, but when it comes down to family holidays, the purse strings often have the final say.
Opting for a caravan break over a week in a woodsy Scandinavian lodge may lack a certain prestige, but it promises heaps of enjoyment for both adults and children. Narin Flanders, a mum-of-two and seasoned Center Parcs guest, recently ventured to a Haven for a weekend getaway and returned singing its praises.
Penning her thoughts for MyLondon, Narin shared her initial trepidation about the escalating costs at Center Parcs and the stereotype of a cramped caravan stay. However, she cast aside her doubts and found the experience joyous, deeming the switch a ‘no-brainer’ after clocking the significant savings.
She said: “What’s more the difference in price in terms of meals and activities was considerable and we were pleased to come home without feeling like we’d been rinsed for money at every turn – a low point of our last Center Parcs trip was paying just shy of £7 for two Fruit Shoots which, ironically, felt like the final straw.
“As grown-ups we expected the kids would enjoy a Haven break more than us, but we all came away having had a blast. It was, without doubt, the best holiday in terms of how much everyone in the family enjoyed it, no matter their age. There was a great mixture of activities to do and opportunities for chill time, and the accommodation was lovely – with plenty of space for everyone to spread out.”
We’ve done a little comparison of all six UK Center Parcs villages against their nearest geographical Haven rivals to demonstrate what you might fork out for a short getaway in mid-September.
Lake District
Whinfell Forest, Lake District
Perched at the cusp of the Lake District, Whinfell Forest boasts sprawling woodland, go-karting, and a golf driving range. This retreat is also known for Centre Parcs’ iconic subtropical swimming paradise, complete with its thrilling water park, slides, splash pools and a lake fitted out for watersports alongside a sandy beach.
Cost for a four-night break in September: £549.
Haven Lakeland
On the flip side of the Lake District with arresting views of lakes and peaks, Haven Lakeland is a caravan site offering water thrills from kayaking and canoeing to paddleboarding and pedalo adventures. Amenities include an indoor and outdoor pool, an entertainment space and a picturesque bay-side eatery.
Cost for a four night break in September: £139.
Price difference between the two: Snag a £410 saving with Haven.
East Midlands
Sherwood Forest, Nottingham
Nestled deep within the historic Nottinghamshire Forest, the original Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs holiday village remains as sought-after today as when it first opened its doors in 1987. Spanning over 400 acres of forest to roam, the park boasts a revamped Aqua Sana Forest Spa with luxury lodges and a Treetop Sauna, the Grand Cascade water ride, racket ball courts, a virtual reality experience, and an array of shops and restaurants in the open-air village.
Price for a four-day break in September: £549, but if you fancy upgrading to a tree house, you’d be looking at over £3000.
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Mablethorpe
Moving away from the forest and towards the coast, Golden Sands Holiday Park features a massive indoor swimming pool with a fun flume, an adventure village with aerial activities and huge jumps, an entertainment arcade, live performances, and onsite dining options.
Price for a four-day break in September: £49.
Price difference between the two: A saving of £500 with Haven.
South West
Longleat Forest, Wiltshire
Located in the stunning and historic Longleat Estate, this West Country holiday village offers all the usual signature Centre Parcs attractions, along with a free land train, adventure golf, an escape room, and a spa.
Price for a four-day break in mid-September: £649.
Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village, Somerset
Located by the seaside in Somerset, Burnham-on-Sea boasts two scenic lakes, an indoor pool equipped with a water slide and an outdoor pool for those sunny days. Guests can rent their own kart to explore the park, enjoy some entertainment in the lounge or indulge in a delicious meal at the Mash and Barrel restaurant.
The cost for a four-day break in mid-September is £109.
The price difference between the two results in a saving of £540 with Haven.
East of England
Elvedon
Elveden Forest is perfect for those who relish spending time in the great outdoors. It provides miles of forest cycle paths, watersports on the lake and the longest Centre Parcs zip wire in the UK.
This park also features waterside lodges that are unique to the Suffolk location.
The cost for a four-day break in mid-September is £679.
Caister on Sea, Great Yarmouth
As one of Haven’s most cherished holiday parks, Caister is situated right on the beach and offers traditional caravan fun in Suffolk. The park boasts a new adventure village complete with new activities and play areas, an indoor pool with slides and its very own Burger King.
The cost for a four-day break in September is £79.
The price difference between the two results in a saving of £600 with Haven.
Holiday breaks easily accessible from London.
Woburn Forest, Bedford
Just an hour away from central London, Woburn Forest offers a range of activities, restaurants and accommodation types within a compact 300-acre site featuring a subtropical swimming paradise, an onsite spa and secret picnic areas.
The cost for a four-day break in September is £499
Kent Coast, Kent
Situated roughly an hour from London, the Kent Coast is nestled near Rochester in Kent. The site has recently undergone a revamp to introduce a brand new Marina Lounge entertainment area and activity village, along with a fishing lake, two swimming pools and an onsite restaurant.
Cost for a four-day break in September: £85
Price difference between the two: A saving of £414 with Haven
While Center Parcs may offer a touch more luxury, opting for a weekend getaway at Haven could save you hundreds of pounds.
Elsewhere, Parkdean Resorts offers a traditional British holiday park vibe, boasting 66 parks in some of UK’s sought-after coastal regions. Echoing Haven’s ethos, Parkdean offers swimming pools, convenient on-site dining and an assortment of entertainment and activities aimed at families.
Fun-loving families who have already enjoyed a stay with Haven have left thousands of reviews on Tripadvisor. A visitor who stayed at Kent Coast left a five-star review that said: “My family and I (2 children under 4) spent 5 days at Kent Coast and had a brilliant time. What a great park, they really have done a lot with the 18m upgrade.”
Another added: “This was my first caravan holiday and to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but we had a great time at Haven Allhallows. I would recommend it especially for people with children. There is so much to do we didn’t want to leave.”
A family who enjoyed a break at the Burnham on Sea park left a five-star review that said: “There was plenty to do as a family with 2 children. The activities, indoor and outdoor pools were great fun. The arcades had plenty of games to go on. The food was also very nice we ate in the restaurant a few times throughout our stay. We will definitely visit again.”
Some guests were not so impressed by their visit though, with on visitor saying: “The sad bit is Burnham on Sea itself! It was windy, freezing and there is nothing to do with young children!”